The principal Estates in the Township daughter of Edward Foden, esq. barrister at law, and recorder of Stafford; he was buried, August 14th. 1722, leaving two sons in their minority; of which Thomas the youngest died of a fall from his horse, January 14th, 1750. John the eldest, married Elizabeth, the beautiful heiress of Mr. Whitehead, of Hadley in the county of Salop, by whom he had only one daughter, Elizabeth. In 1561 Mr. Barnes's estate was copyhold, but before the restoration it was enfranchised by Platers and Onslow. On the road from the Lowe to Whixall, there are now three tenements, but formerly only two, (viz.) Webb's and Whitfield's; which were then copyhoid, but are now free. William Webb was of the jury in 1561, and then was proprietor of the first of these tenements: 1623, it was in the possession of William Felton, who for this, and another estate in Horton, was charged eight shillings towards the subsidy paid in 1642: his son had the title of gentleman; being brought up to the law, he was employed by the borough-holders and copy-holders of Wem, 1673, to manage their suit against Mr. Wycherley, who 1680, found means to corrupt and bribe him to betray his trust, and secret and suppress the copies, writings, and evidences which they had put into his hands. This man afterwards sold his estate to the lord chancelor Jeffreys, and so it has since gone along with the barony and manor of Wem. It is at present held by Mr. Barns, as lying up to his own estate. The principal Estates in the Township. Roger Whitfield, ancestor of all the Whitfields in these parts, was of the jury of survey 1561, and was then possessed of a large estate, which in times past had belonged to the Cadmans. One of his descendants sold the greatest part of it to Mr. Barnes, of the Lowe; the remainder continued in the family much longer, for Catherine, widow of Thomas Whitfield, was charged towards the subsidy in 1642, and Roland, her son, gave 20s. to Wem School, in 1651. Soon after this he sold his estate to steward Jebb, who got it enfranchised with several others, but Mr. Richard Jebb, grandson of the steward, once a mercer in Wem, and now curate of Whixall, sold it to Mr. Richard Lawrence of Wem, the present occupier. The farthest tenement borders on Northwood, and belongs to Mr. Barnes, of the Lowe; the tenure was changed from copyhold to freehold, at the same time that the rest of the estates were enfranchised. HORTON. The Boundaries, Extent, Tenure Soil, and Valuation of Horton. 'N England there are near twenty towns called Horton, a name which the antiquaries do not explaine, this is a mile from Wem: it is bounded on the North by Newtown, on the east by the Lowe and Ditches, on the south by the pool lands of Wem, and The Principal Inhabitants of Horton, for the last 200 Years. Penceford brook; and on the west by Wolverley. It is near a measured mile in length, from Goborn's moat to Penceford brook; its breadth is much the same, from the pool land in Wem, to the township of Newtown. All the estates in it are copyhold, except that which belonged to the Chettoes, which was enfranchised by Platers and Onslow. The soil is deep, marl is the principal manure, and wheat is the favourite grain. In respect to the landtax, this township is valued at £120. Is. 4d. THE PRINCIPAL INHABITANTS. The Husseys had one of the largest estates here about the middle of the 16th. century. Catherine, widow of Thomas, was possessed of it at the time of the survey in 1561. One of her descendants sold it, and purchased that which now belongs to Mr. Higginson, of Whitchurch. Mr. Hussey lived here at the beginning of the civil war. The Moodies were the next considerable family. William Moody was of the jury of survey, in 1562. He had three Messuages, and a cottage on his estate. The principal messuage stood between the present house of Mr. Leighton, and Andrew Morris's; when this was taken down, part of it was added to the house on the bank, opposite to Mr. Higginson's. William, son of the above William, was concerned a suit against the Countess of Arundel. His son The Principal Inhabitants of Horton, for the last 200 Years. John, enjoyed the estate during the civil war, and was a benefactor to the school. William, son of John, was one of the Plaintiffs against Mr. Wycherley, 1673, and was ruined by that and perhaps some other misfortunes; he sold his estate to John Chettoe in 1693. The Chettoes, or Chetwalls, bore a great sway in this town, 1561; at the time of the survey John Chetwall was settled at the messuage now belonging to Mrs. Leighton. His son William, 1622, was one of the defendants against the Countess of Arundel, and paid to the subsidy just before the beginning of the civil war, 1642. William was succeeded by his two sons, John and Edward, both tanners; John the eldest was a benefactor to the school of Wem, and Edward to the church. The widow of this enjoyed the estate until 1702. John Chettoe, her eldest son, purchased several estates, made a great figure, contracted many debts, and by his being made a bankrupt ruined many people. William, his eldest son, bred up to the law, being surety for his father, was forced to fly to the West Indies. It is remarkable how this family varied their surname: at first it was Chitwall, afterwards Chetall, and at last Chettoe. The Tylers had a very good estate here; their house was north of the Chettoes', but is now re ૨૧ The principal Inhabitants of Horton for the last 200 Years. Richard moved to Wem, near the Free-school. Tyler was settled here towards the beginning of the 16th century: Joan, his widow, was in possession of his messuage and lands at the time of the survey; William, their son, was then of the jury, and had purchased another messuage and estate in this town, from one Iveson. Adam, son of William, was one of the defendants, 1622, brought by the Countess of Arundel, relating to lands near the old Pool. Richard, son of Adam, was killed by a party of soldiers that plundered his house, 1644. His son William was a benefactor to Wem school, 1651. Richard, son of this William, contributed towards the rebuilding of Wem church, 1676. William, son of Richard, commonly called Farmer Tyler, was obliged to sell the estate to pay his debts. The Allins or Allens were a considerable family here, they inhabited the house that Andrew Morris now does. Richard was of the jury of survey; his son John succeeded him in 1596, and in 1622 was a defendant against the Countess of Arundel. Richard, son of John, paid to the subsidy in 1642, was a benefactor to the school at Wem in 1651, and one of the plaintiffs against Mr. Wycherley in 1673, and surviving his son John, died in 1685. His grandson Richard, was born in 1675, (in which year his father died) educated at Wem school, chosen Fellow of Sidney College, Cambridge, where he died |